Cloud storage for image data, image product designs, and image projects

ABSTRACT

A method for proactively creating a photobook includes identifying a group of images by a computer system and automatically creating a design for a photobook by the computer system without receiving a user&#39;s request for designing a photobook if the number of images in the group is determined to be within a predetermined range. Pages of the photobook incorporate a plurality of images in the group. The method further includes presenting the design of the photobook to a user for preview and receiving an order from the user for a physical manifestation of the photobook based on the design.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to utilization of digital images, and morespecifically, to the creation, storing and sharing of images, imageproduct designs, and image projects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, photography has been rapidly transformed from chemicalbased technologies to digital imaging technologies. Images captured bydigital cameras can be stored in computers and viewed on displaydevices. Users can also produce image prints based on the digitalimages. Such image prints can be generated locally using output devicessuch an inkjet printer or a dye sublimation printer or remotely by aphoto printing service provider. Other products that can be producedusing the digital images can include photo books, photo calendars, photomug, photo T-shirt, and so on. A photo book can include a cover page anda plurality of image pages each containing one or more images. Designinga photobook can include many iterative steps such as selecting suitableimages, selecting layout, selecting images for each page, selectingbackgrounds, picture frames, overall Style, add text, choose text font,and rearrange the pages, images and text, which can be quite timeconsuming. It is desirable to provide methods to allow users to designand produce photo albums in a time efficient manner.

Furthermore, with the proliferation of digital devices, people nowacquire, edit, share, and organize images on different devices, at andaway from homes. There is an increased need for an imaginginfrastructure to provide uniform and ubiquitous imaging services tocustomers for storing images, as well as image product designs, andphotostories.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed methods and systems can significant increase the awarenessof users in personalized image products such as photobooks. A user canalso be given a chance to learn and visualize what a photobook mightlook like before he or she realizes that the possibility of a photobookor a photobook design based on his or her images. The memories of theusers can thus be better preserved in more colorful and tangible waysfor the users.

Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods provide more convenientways for a user to obtain designs of photo books. Images in a group canbe automatically arranged into a photobook design without being asked bya user. The user is provided with an option to review, to edit, and torequest a photobook to be made according to the design. As a result, thetime and effort for a user to obtain a photobook are significantlyreduced.

Additionally, the disclosed systems and methods can significantly saveusers' time spent on transferring, saving, or organizing images frommultiple devices. The disclosed systems and methods allow image projectsand image product designs created on a device or at an image servicecenter to be automatically stored at cloud storage and made accessibleto other devices that are connected or not connected to the imageservice center. The accesses to a group of or individual images, imageproduct designs, and photostories by different users can be flexiblydefined by the owner of the data.

Another advantage of the disclosed system is that the creation (users'devices or image service center) of the secondary image project and thestorage and sharing (e.g. cloud storage) of the secondary image projectcan be performed by different systems, which can minimize cost of datatraffic over the network and allow each system to be optimized for itindividual functions.

In one general aspect, the present invention relates to acomputer-implemented method for providing image services over a computernetwork. The method includes: establishing a unified data structurebetween an image service center and an cloud storage system, wherein theunified data structure define images and secondary image projectsassociated with a first user; storing images in the image service centeraccording to the unified data structure; automatically sending theimages from the image service center to the cloud storage system;automatically storing the images are stored according to the unifieddata structure in the cloud storage system; automatically creating asecondary image project incorporating one or more of the images;automatically storing the secondary image project in the cloud storagesystem; and allowing users' devices to access the secondary imageproject stored at the cloud storage system.

Implementations of the system may include one or more of the following.The secondary image project can be automatically created withoutreceiving user request. The secondary image project can be automaticallycreated by one or servers in the image service center. The secondaryimage project is automatically created by a client application incommunication with the image service center. The secondary image projectis automatically created on a user device using a web interface incommunication with the image service center. The secondary image projectcan include an image product design. The unified data structure caninclude user identification, one or more image albums, and one or morefolders each comprising one or more secondary image projects. Thecomputer-implemented method can further include allowing a first user todefine roles of the users in accessing the secondary image projectstored in the cloud storage system. The users' devices can be allowed toaccess the secondary image project stored at the cloud storage systembased on corresponding users' access roles. The step of automaticallycreating a secondary image project can include automatically identifyinga group of images and determining, by a computer system, if the numberof images in the group is within a predetermined range, wherein thesecondary image project is automatically created without receiving auser request if the number of images in the group is determined to bewithin a predetermined range. The secondary image project includes aphotobook that incorporates the images associated with the user. Thecomputer-implemented method can further include automatically selectinga format or a style for the design of the photobook. Thecomputer-implemented method can further include assigning a portion ofthe images into a first page group and a second page group eachcomprising one or more images; placing the first page group of one ormore images in the first page of the photobook; and placing the secondpage group of one or more images in the second page of the photobook.The computer-implemented method can further include automaticallyselecting a first page layout from a library of page layouts, whereinthe first page group of one or more images are placed in the first pageaccording to the first page layout; and automatically selecting a secondpage layout from the library of page layouts, wherein the second pagegroup of one or more images are placed in the second page according tothe second page layout. At least two of the portion of images can beseparated into the first page group and the second page group based oncapture times of the two images. At least two of the portion of imagescan be separated into the first page group and the second page groupbased on color content of the two images. At least two of the portion ofimages can be separated into the first page group and the second pagegroup based on image-capture locations of the two images.

In one general aspect, the present invention relates to acomputer-implemented method for providing image services over a computernetwork. The method includes establishing a unified data structurebetween an image service center and an cloud storage system, wherein theunified data structure define images and secondary image projectsassociated with a first user; enabling an image product design to becreated incorporating one or more of the images; automatically storingthe image product design according to the unified data structure in theimage service center; automatically sending the image product design tothe cloud storage system; automatically storing the image product designaccording to the unified data structure in the cloud storage system; andallowing users' devices to access the image product design stored at thecloud storage system.

Implementations of the system may include one or more of the following.The image product design can be automatically created without receivinga request from a user. The image product design can be initiated by auser and enabled by the image service center.

In another general aspect, the present invention relates to a method forproactively creating a photobook. The method includes identifying agroup of images by a computer system; automatically creating a designfor a photobook by the computer system without receiving a user'srequest for designing a photobook if the number of images in the groupis determined to be within a predetermined range, wherein pages of thephotobook incorporate a plurality of images in the group; presenting thedesign of the photobook to a user for preview; and receiving an orderfrom the user for a physical manifestation of the photobook based on thedesign.

Implementations of the system may include one or more of the following.The group of images can be received in an upload from a computer deviceto the computer system. The group of images can be formed in anelectronic share from a first user to a second user. The group of imagescan be clustered when they are selected for printing. The group ofimages can be clustered when the images are placed in an electronicfolder or an electronic album. The group of images can be tagged by acommon label. The method can further include automatically selecting aformat or a style for the design of the photobook before the step ofautomatically creating a design for a photobook by a computer system.The method can further include determining if the number of images inthe group is determined to be within a predetermined range, wherein thepredetermined range varies depending on if the group of the images isclustered in an upload from a computer device to the computer system, orwhen the images are selected for printing, or when the images are placedin an electronic folder or an electronic album, or when the images areplaced in an electronic folder or an electronic album, or the images aretagged by a common label. The step of automatically creating a designfor a photobook can include assigning at least a portion of theplurality of images into a first page group and a second page group eachcomprising one or more images; placing the first page group of one ormore images in the first page of the photobook; and placing the secondpage group of one or more images in the second page of the photobook.The step of automatically creating a design for a photobook can furtherinclude automatically selecting a first page layout from a library ofpage layouts, wherein the first page group of one or more images areplaced in the first page according to the first page layout; andautomatically selecting a second page layout from the library of pagelayouts, wherein the second page group of one or more images are placedin the second page according to the second page layout. At least two ofthe plurality of images can be separated into the first page group andthe second page group based on capture times of the two images. The twoimages can be placed on a same page if the two images were capturedwithin a predetermined period of time. The two images can be placed on adifferent page if the two images were captured within a predeterminedperiod of time. At least two of the plurality of images can be separatedinto the first page group and the second page group based on colorcontent of the two images. The two images can be placed on a same pageif popular colors in the two images are within a predetermined distancein a color space. The two images can be placed on a different page ifpopular colors in the two images are within a predetermined distance ina color space. At least two of the plurality of images can be separatedinto the first page group and the second page group based onimage-capture locations of the two images. The method can furtherinclude allowing the user to remove at least one image from the firstpage or to move an image from the first page to the second page afterthe step of presenting the design of the photobook. The method canfurther include allowing the user to select the format or the style forthe design of the photobook page after the step of presenting the designof the photobook. The method can further include making the physicalmanifestation of the photobook in accordance to the design. The step ofpresenting the design of the photobook to a user for preview can includesending an email message to the user to present the design of thephotobook.

In another general aspect, the present invention relates to a method forproactively creating a photobook. The method includes identifying agroup of images by a computer system; automatically selecting a formatand a style for a photobook by the computer system if the number ofimages in the group is determined to be within a predetermined range;automatically creating a design for the photobook in the selected formatand the style by the computer system without receiving a user's requestfor designing a photobook using the group of images, wherein pages ofthe photobook incorporates a plurality of images in the group;presenting the design of the photobook to a user for preview; andreceiving an order from the user for a physical manifestation of thephotobook based on the design.

In another general aspect, the present invention relates to a method forproactively creating a photobook. The method includes identifying agroup of images by a computer system; automatically creating a designfor a photobook by the computer system without receiving a user'srequest for designing a photobook if the number of images in the groupis determined to be within a predetermined range, wherein pages of thephotobook incorporate a plurality of images in the group; presenting thefirst design of the photobook to a user for preview; detecting a changein the group of images; automatically modifying the first design ofphotobook to create a second design for the photobook in response to thechange in the group of images; and presenting the second design of thephotobook to a user for preview.

Implementations of the system may include one or more of the following.The change in the group of images can include addition to the group ofimages or removal of images from the group of images. The change in thegroup of images can include a change in an image property of the groupof images. The image property can include a tag, a keyword, a title of afolder where the images are placed, or metadata at least one of theimages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthis specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for imaging applicationscompatible with the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart for proactively creating a photobook inaccordance to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exemplified user interface showing an image album having aplurality of images.

FIG. 4 is an exemplified user interface showing an image album having aplurality of images, and an indication that a photobook has beenproactively created.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an exemplified user interface for showing aproactively created photobook.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart for proactively and automatically creating adesign for a photobook in accordance to the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates sorting and grouping of images by image capture timein accordance to an aspect of the present application.

FIG. 8 illustrates sorting and grouping of images by image color contentin accordance to another aspect of the present application.

FIG. 9 illustrates sorting and grouping of images by image-capturelocation in accordance to another aspect of the present application.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart for proactively creating a photobook inaccordance to another aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram for a network-based image service system forimage data, image product designs, and photostories.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for exemplified operations of the network-basedimage service system.

FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of an exemplified user interface forthe network-based image service system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, the term “photo album” refers to a book thatincludes one or two cover pages and one or more image pages. Each of theimage pages can include one or more images. The image pages can alsoinclude text or image caption. The image layout can also include abackground pattern. In the imaging industry, photo albums can includephoto books, scrapbooks, snap books, and any books form including boundimage pages.

A computer 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 represents an exemplified hardwaresetup for executing software that allows a user to perform tasks such ascommunicating with other computer users, accessing various computerresources, and viewing, creating, or otherwise manipulating electroniccontent, that is, any combination of text, images, movies, music orother sounds, animations, 3D virtual worlds, and links to other objects.The system includes various input/output (I/O) devices (mouse 103,keyboard 105, display 107) and a computer 100 having a central processorunit (CPU) 121, an I/O unit 117 and a memory 109 that stores data andvarious programs such as an operating system 111, and one or moreapplication programs 113. The computer 100 also typically includesnon-volatile memory 110 (e.g., flash RAM, a hard disk drive, and/or afloppy disk or other removable storage media) and a communications cardor device 123 (e.g., a modem or network adapter) for exchanging datawith a network 127 via a communications link 125 such as a cable modem,DSL service or wireless Internet connection. The computer 100 of FIG. 1also can be connected to various peripheral I/O devices. One of the morepopular of such peripheral devices is a digital camera 108. The digitalcamera 108 enables users to take pictures (i.e., images), which aresaved in memory within the digital camera 108 in a digital format. Aftertaking and storing the images, the user can connect the digital camera108 to a computer 100 in order to upload the digital images to thecomputer's disk drive or other non-volatile memory 110. The user canalso wirelessly transfer digital images in the digital camera to thecomputer 100. Once the digital images are uploaded to the computer 100,the user can erase the digital images from the memory of the digitalcamera 108 so that the user can take and store additional images usingthe digital camera 108. Typically, the digital camera 108 is connectedto the computer 100 only while the user is uploading images to thecomputer's disk drive or other non-volatile memory 110. Once the digitalimages are stored on the computer 100, a user can perform variousoperations on them. For example, an image viewer application can be usedto view the images. A photo editing application can also be used totouch-up or otherwise modify the images. The computer 100 cancommunicate via Internet 150 with a server 160 provided by a serviceprovider, such as Shutterfly, Inc. A user operating the computer 100 canupload or download images between the computer and the server 160. Theuser can also electronically share his or her images facilitated by theservice provider.

It should be noted that the computer 100 can exist in otherconfigurations from the example shown in FIG. 1 and described above. Thecomputer can include a mobile device such as a smart phone, a wirelessenabled mobile computer such as a laptop computer or a tablet computer.

Although large numbers of images are frequently captured by digitalcameras, people often are not aware of the types of customized digitalenabled imaging products that are available from image service providerssuch as Shutterfly, Inc. Customizable image products can includephotobooks, photo calendars, photo greeting cards, photo stationeries,photo mugs, photo T-shirt, and so on, which can provide significantenhanced ways for preserving people's treasured memories in addition toviewing images on electronic displays.

Additionally, significant obstacles exist even for people who are awareof the availability of customizable image products. The design of aphotobook, for example, can take significant amount of time and effort.A user has to select photos for many pages including a cover page. Theuser needs to select a format, and a style for the photobook. The userneeds to design or select layout for each page, sort images fordifferent pages, and place images onto individual pages. The photobookdesign can take many iterative steps such as selecting suitable images,selecting layout, selecting images for each page, add text, which canoften take hours to complete.

Once the user approves a design, the photobook can be made according tothe design locally by a printer 130 connected to the computer 100, orremotely by the imaging service provider at a printing facility 170.

Referring to FIG. 2, a photobook can be made available to a user in thefollowing general process. It should be noted that the process caninclude substeps within each step and other steps not shown in FIG. 2. Agroup of images are identified by a computer system such as the computer100 or the server 170 (step 210). The images can be received in a groupin an upload from a computer device (e.g. the computer 100, FIG. 1) tothe computer system (e.g. the server 170, FIG. 1), or from a digitalcamera to a computer (e.g. the computer 100, FIG. 1). The images canform a group when the images are shared in an electronic message from afirst user (e.g. operating the computer 100, FIG. 1) to a second uservia a computer server (e.g. the server 170, FIG. 1). The images can beidentified when a group of images are selected for printing. The imagescan also be identified when the images are placed in an electronicfolder or an electronic album for an occasion or event, or simply forcollecting pictures of a theme or interest (which can be called “apicture picker”). As shown in FIG. 3, a user interface 300 (e.g. a webbrowser) displays an image album 310 that can have an album name 315such as “Graduation Celebration” and a plurality of images 320. Theimage album 310 can include several pages of images that a user cannavigate to and view by clicking arrow buttons 340, 350. Furthermore,images may be tagged by a user or the service provider by labeled suchas “Hawaiian Vacation”, “Soccer Team”, “Birthday Party”, “Favorite”,etc. A group of images can be identified when they are tagged by acommon label such as “Hawaiian Vacation”.

The computer system then determines if the number of images is within apredetermined range (step 220). For example, the threshold for thenumber of images in the group can be 20 (i.e. the predetermined range is20 or higher). If the images in the group are within the predeterminedrange, the computer system automatically selects a style and a formatfor a photobook (step 230). The styles of photobooks can include, forexample, romance, seasonal, every day, vacation, travel, wedding, baby,kids, birthday, school memories, sports, Mother's day, holiday, etc.,each of which can include more detailed styles. A style of a photobookcan specify the theme of the photobook such as colors, the backgroundthemes, the patterns, the picture frames, text font, text position, andimages on the inner pages as well as covers of the photobook. The formatof a photobook can include the size e.g. 5″×7″, 8″×8″, 12″×12″ etc.),the paper stock materials for the pages and the cover, the type ofbinding, and the finish of the photobook.

In some embodiments, the predetermined range can depend on how the groupof images is selected, whether they are selected for printing, or forelectronic share, or placed in a single electronic folder or album, orreceived in an image upload, or tagged by a same label. For example, thethreshold number can be 15 for the images that are selected forprinting, and 20 for the images that are selected for electronicsharing. The different threshold image numbers for different imageaggregation sources is based on the observation that users conductingdifferent image operations often have different degrees of interests inseeing the design and making a physical image-based product such as aphotobook. The above described flexibility in image threshold numberscan provide service best suitable to different segments of users.

The style and the format of the photobook can have default selectionssuch as “everyday” for the photobook style and 8″ by 8″ hardcover forthe photobook format. In some embodiments, the style and the format ofthe photobook can be selected based on knowledge of the images in thegroup. Specifically, an image property can be extracted from the groupof identified images. For example, if the images are identified by acommon tag label “Hawaii Vacation”, a photobook style for vacation, orspecifically for Hawaiian vacation, may be automatically selected. Inanother example, if the images identified are in an electronic albumcalled “Molly's Birthday Party”, a birthday photobook style can beautomatically selected. In another example, the album name 315 (FIG. 3)in which the images (320, FIG. 3) are identified can be used toautomatically select a photobook style (such as a “Graduation” photobookstyle).

The computer system automatically produces a design incorporating theidentified images using the automatically selected photobook style andformat (step 240). It should be noted that the photobook design usingthe group of identified images, and the associated selections ofphotobook style and formats, are proactively and automaticallyimplemented by the computer system without receiving a request from auser. The approach described in the present systems and methods isdifferent from conventional photobook creation processes wherein usersinitiate projects to design photobooks. As described above, conventionalphotobook-making methods require awareness and familiarity of thephotobooks by the users. The projects of creating photobooks can be verytime consuming.

The proactively and automatically created design of the photobook can bepresented by the computer system to a user for preview (step 250). Asshown in FIG. 4, the user interface 300 can display a button 400 “SeeYour Photobook” to indicate that a photobook based on the images 320 inthe image album 310 has been proactively created, and ready for theusers view. A photobook design 500 is displayed in the user interface300 after the user clicks the button 400, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.The photobook can include a front cover 510, a back cover 520, and aplurality of pages 530, 540. The book title can be automaticallyselected from the name of the image album 310 (FIG. 3). The front cover510 can include a book title 515 and an image 518 selected from theimages 320 (FIG. 3). For example, the image 518 can be the first imagein the album 310 or the image used (for a thumbnail image) to representthe image album 310. The page 530 can include an image 531. The page 540can include images 541, 542, and text 543. The presentation of thephotobook design 500 can include realistic illumination and texture toimitate effects of the materials in the selected book format.

The user can click arrow buttons 550, 560 to view different pages of thephotobook. The cover and different pages of the photobook design 500 canalso be played automatically like a slide show once the user clicks thebutton 400 (FIG. 4).

Optionally, the user is allowed to edit the photobook design 500 (step260). The user can change, switch, or remove the images 518, 531, 541,and 542 on the book cover 510 and pages 530, 540. The user can alsochange text information such as the book cover 515 and the text 543. Itshould be noted that the photobook design 500 represents a completedesign of a photobook that is ready to be ordered. The editing is anoptional step depending on the user's time availability.

It should be understood that the proactively created photobook designscan be presented in many forms. As describe above, images identified tocreate a photobook design typically belong to a group, such as a groupof shared images, posted images, uploaded images, or images selected forprinting, etc. The proactively created photobook design is presented tothe user at relevant places on the web pages, such as on a web page forconfirming the share of the group of images, at a share web when thegroup of shared images are viewed, or at a page after a group of imageshave been ordered for printing. The image service provider can alsoproactively send an email to inform someone about the creation of thephotobook design. For example, a user that just uploaded a group ofimages to the server managed by the image service provider may receivean email message from the service provider about the creation of thephotobook design.

After the user has reviewed and optionally edited the photobook design500, the user can save the photobook design 500 and order a physicalmanifestation of the photobook based on the to edit the photobook design500 from the image service provider (step 270).

The image service provider can receive the order via the server 160 hasa physical manifestation manufactured at the printing facility 170according to the photobook design 500 (step 280).

Details about the proactive design of a photobook (in steps 230-240,FIG. 2) are described below. Referring to FIG. 6, a group of imageshaving numbers within a predetermined range are first obtained asdescribed above by a computer system (step 600). A style and a formatcan be automatically selected for a photobook design (step 610). Theimages are sorted by one or more criteria to produce a desirablesequence that the images will be presented in a photo book (step 620).The criteria can include a primary criterion. For example, the imagescan be sorted by their associated image capture times. The image capturetimes can be extracted from the header information in the image files.For example, a JPEG image may include an EXIF header that includes thecapture time of the image. It is stored by the digital camera in theimage file as information in association with the image data. Referringto FIG. 7, a cumulative image count can be plotted against image capturetime. In one implementation, the list of images can be sequencedchronically based on capture time of the images. Users often prefer tohave images to appear in book pages in a chronological order. The imagescan be then separated into page groups using one or more secondarycriteria. For example, images can be grouped according to capture time.Images captured in a short time interval are more likely suitable to beplaced on the same page, facing pages, or adjacent pages in a photobook. In some embodiments, images that are taken in a short interval(e.g. a day) can be assigned to a same group (e.g. Group A, FIG. 7). Theimages in Group A, Group B, or Group C (FIG. 7) are captured in a shorttime interval. The images in each of these groups can be respectivelygrouped as candidates to appear on a same page, facing pages, oradjacent pages.

The sorted images may be first placed into a group including a largenumber of images that do not fit on a page. For example, ten images inGroup B (FIG. 7) are taken in a short time interval such a day. Theimages in Group B can be further separated into page groups using othersecondary criteria such as color content and image capture locations.For instance, the most popular color of each of the ten images can beplotted in a color space (such as (Y, u, v), (L, a, b) etc.), as shownin FIG. 8. The color space is first separated into finite number ofregions. The most popular color is defined as the color region that hasthe most pixel values that fall into. The ten images can be furthersub-grouped according to their adjacencies in the color plane (u, v):images 1-3 may be categorized into a first group; images 4-6 may becategorized into a second group; images 7-10 may be categorized into athird group. The images 1-10 in Group A might have been taken within asame day. The photographer might have traveled to several differentsurroundings, such as a beach, a restaurant indoor, or a swimming poolat the hotel, each of which may have different color distributions. Itshould be understood that the display of color content distributions ofimages are not limited to a specific color coordinates or the twodimensional color plane shown in FIG. 8. The color distributions can beplotted in three dimensional color spaces (Y, u, v), (L, a, b), or twodimensional color planes such as (Y, u), (Y, v), (a, b), (L, a) etc. Insome embodiments, the images with close distance in color space areintentionally separated across different pages in the photobook such asthe images on a page will not look alike.

In some embodiments, the images can be sorted or grouped based ongeographic locations. For example, assuming Group C (FIG. 7) includesfive images that are taken, for example, in a same day. Geo locationinformation about each of the five images can be extracted from theheader information of the five images, and plotted as shown in FIG. 9.Images 1-3 are shown to have been taken in close proximity while images4-5 are taken at similar locations. Images 1-3 can be sub-groupedtogether and assigned to Page 4 of the photo book. Images 4-5 can besub-grouped together and assigned to Page 5 of the photo book. In someembodiments, the Images 1-3 and the Images 4-5 can be assigned to be onfacing pages (e.g. such as pages 4 and 5) such that the images from thesame events can be viewed on facing pages in one open-book view. In someembodiments, the images with close geographic proximity areintentionally separated across different pages in the photobook such asthe images on a page will not look alike. The placements of two pagegroups of images on facing pages can be based on one or more secondarycriteria, such as image capture time, image color content, and imagecapture location.

A page layout is automatically selected from the library of page layoutsin accordance with the properties of the images on the page as well asthe text information associated with the image receiving areas in thepage layout (step 630). The format of the image receiving field in thepage layout matches the format of the selected image. For example,images in Group A (FIG. 7) may include two landscape images (L) and twoportrait images (P). A notation for the image formats for Group A can be“LLPP”. The page layout selected from the page-layout library shouldhave four image receiving areas with matching image formats “LLPP”.

The page layout also includes an image caption area positioned adjacentto the image receiving area for receiving the associated textinformation. For example, one portrait image and one landscape image maybe selected for the next page. The portrait image has associated textinformation entered by the user and stored in conjunction with theportrait image. The landscape is not associated with any textinformation. In selecting a page layout, the disclosed system firstselect page layouts containing two image receiving areas, and thenfurther selects page layouts that have include one portrait and onelandscape image receiving areas. Additionally, the disclosed systemfurther selects page layouts that include an image caption area inassociation with the portrait image receiving area. After the pagelayout is selected, the selected image(s) and associated text areautomatically placed in the selected page layout (step 640). Theplacement of the selected image(s) and associated text can be done in asingle step because they are pre-stored in an integrated data structureas described previously. The same steps can be repeated for fill theimage fields and text fields in each page of a photo book. The user canselect an image from the plurality of images to be used as part of thebook cover. Details about arranging images in page layouts are disclosedin the above referenced commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/406,873, titled “Smart photobook creation”, the content of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the design of the photobook can be dynamicallychanged as the identified images change in the group. For example, thephotobook design 500 can dynamically change as a user adds or removesimages in and out of an image album (310, FIG. 3). The number of pages,the number of images per page, and the layout of images on the pages canautomatically adapt to the changes to the images identified in thegroup. In general the process of updating photobook design can includethe following steps: similar to the descriptions above in relation tosteps 210-250 (FIG. 2), referring to FIG. 10, a group of images is firstidentified (step 1010). If the number of images in the identified groupof images is determined to be in a predetermined range (step 1020), astyle and a format are automatically selected for a photobook design(step 1030). A first design of a photobook is automatically createdwithout receiving a request from a user (step 1040). The first design ofthe photobook is made available for the preview by a user (step 1050).When a change is detected in the group of identified images (step 1060),a second design of a photobook is automatically created withoutreceiving a request from a user in response to the change detected inthe group of images (step 1070). The change in the group of images caninclude addition to the group of images or removal of images from thegroup of images. The change in the group of images can also include achange in an image property of the group of images. The image propertycan include a tag, a keyword, a title of a folder where the images areplaced, or metadata at least one of the images.

The second design of the photobook is subsequently presented for user'spreview (step 1080). The change in the group of identified images caninclude addition, removal, a change in the sequence, addition of remarksand keywords, addition in change in tagging in a group of images. Theuploading of images into an image folder/album can take more than oneuploading events. The design of the photobook can be continually updatedas new images are received by the image folder/album.

It should be understood that the library of page layout contains layoutswith different numbers of images other than one, two, and three. For agiven number of images on a page and for the given formats of theimages, the page layout is not limited to the designs shown in thisapplication. There can be a large variation of layout designs for thesame number of images with the same formats on each page. Moreover, thesorting and grouping of images can be implemented by other approaches orusing other metrics. The illustration of page grouping and page breaksfor the images can also vary within the scope of the present disclosure.Moreover, the presently disclosed systems and methods are compatiblewith a software application installed locally on a computer device,client software in communication with a remote server, or a softwareapplication installed on a central server.

In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 11, a network-based image servicesystem 1100 includes an image service center 1110 and one or more cloudstorages 1120. Examples of the image service center 1110 includeShutterfly, Inc., which enables users to store, organize and shareimages from devices 1115 via wired or wireless networks. The imageservice center 1110 can include one or more servers 1150, a data center,and include or in communication with a product fulfillment center. Theone or more server 1150 can include upload servers, email servers,application servers, image servers, and image or general purposeprocessors, etc. A user can upload images from a device 1115 to theimage service center 1110, which can be organized and stored in imagealbums 1111.

The cloud storage 1120 can be established by the service providerresponsible for the image service center 1110. The cloud storage 1120can also be provided by third party systems. The cloud storage 1120enables users to store, retrieve, and share files and folders across theInternet. The files can be synchronized with a variety of user devices1121-1124 such as desktop or laptop computers, mobile phones, and tabletcomputer. The user devices can be run on different operating systemsincluding Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, as well as versions formobile devices, such as Android, IOS, WebOS, Windows Mobile, andBlackBerry OS, and a browser-based client instead of a client installedon a local device.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the image service center 1110 allows itsuser to establish authenticated communications between the user'saccount at the image service center 1110 and the cloud storage 1120(step 1200). If the user already has an account at the cloud storage1120, the two accounts can be linked with the user's log-in informationand with user's authorization. If not, the user can set up an account atthe cloud storage 1120 that is linked to the user's account at the imageservice center 1110. When the image service center 1110 and the cloudstorage 1120 are enabled by the same service provider, the user can alsohave a joint account for both systems.

User's data transfers between the image service center 1110 and thecloud storage 1120 can be based on authentication applicationprogramming interface (API). The user can send and store pictures,video, and other files to the cloud storage 1120 from any of the devices1121-1124. Communication between the devices 1121-1124 and the cloudstorage 1120 can also be conducted via an authentication API. The imagefiles can be automatically transferred into the user's image albums 1111in the image service center 1110.

A unified data structure is pre-defined for image albums 1111 andsecondary image projects such as image product designs 1112 andphotostories 1113 at the image service center 1110 (step 1210). Theunified data structure is mapped from the image service center 1110 tothe cloud storage 1120 (step 1220). For example, a unified datastructure can have a hierarchical structure including data fields for:

-   -   User identification;    -   Image albums and folders each comprising image product designs        or photostories;    -   Specific image or image product design or photostory;    -   Metadata, tags, and keywords associated with the images, text,        design elements in the images, or image product designs, or        photostories.

The images stored in the image service center 1110 can be automaticallysynchronized with the cloud storage 1120 (step 1220). In other words,the images stored in the image service center 1110 can be sent to thecloud storage 1120 and saved in the unified data structure in the cloudstorage 1120.

The servers 1150 can enable users to create a secondary image projectsuch as image product designs 1112 and photostories 1113 using a web orclient interface in communication with the image service center 1110 ora local client installed on the devices 1121-1124 (step 1230). The imageproducts can be fulfilled for the users by fulfillment centers within orin connection to the image service center 1110. Examples of imageproducts include photobooks, photo cards and stationeries, photocalendars, etc. Examples of the photostories 1113 can include digitalscrapbooks, virtual greeting cards, videos produced from images, acoherent presentation of photos, text, and design elements presented inlinear or two-dimensional patterns, and photo slideshows. The imageproduct designs and photo stories can include personalized text, designselements, users' photos, and sometimes sound files.

In some embodiments, the secondary image project such as the imageproduct designs 1112 and the photostories 1113 can be proactively orautomatically created by image applications run on the severs 1150 inthe image service center 1110 or by client applications run on userdevices 1121-1124, 1115 without being requested by a user (step 1230).For example, a group of images can be automatically identified by thesevers 1150, and used to create a photobook or a photo calendar by thesevers 1150 in the image service center 1110. Furthermore, images storedin the same or across different albums can be analyzed and identified bythe severs 1150. Images sharing a common theme can be automaticallyselected by the severs 1150 to form a photo story. The photostories 1113and the image product designs 1112 include images as well as designcomponents such as text, image borders, image edit properties (e.g.cropping, color enhancement, image border, red-eye removal, imagerotation, image background, embellishment . . . ). Examples of the imageproducts include photobooks, greeting cards, photo calendars,stationeries, photo gifts. The metadata, tags, and keywords can includedescriptors (occasions, events), image capture times, image uploadtimes, image capture locations, image edit properties, image captions,and image borders. Details of computer assisted or automated creation ofimage products or image projects without user request are describedabove in relation to FIGS. 1-10.

When an image product or a photostory is created on a device (e.g. 1115,1121-1124) or at a web user interface to the image service center 1110,the created secondary image project is stored at the image servicecenter 1110 (step 1240). The created secondary image project isautomatically sent to (step 1250) and stored (step 1260) at the cloudstorage 1120.

An advantage of the disclosed system is that they can significantly saveusers' time spent on transferring, saving, or organizing images frommultiple devices. The disclosed systems and methods allow image projectsand image product designs created on a device or at an image servicecenter to be automatically stored at cloud storage and made accessibleto other devices that are connected or not connected to the imageservice center. The accesses to a group of or individual images, imageproduct designs, and photostories by different users can be flexiblydefined by the owner of the data.

Another advantage of the disclosed system is that the creation (users'devices or image service center) of the secondary image project and thestorage and sharing (e.g. cloud storage) of the secondary image projectcan be performed by different systems, which can minimize cost of datatraffic over the network and allow each system to be optimized for itindividual functions. It should be noted that the image product or thephotostory can be automatically created by the server 1150 in the imageservice center 1110 can be automatically stored and accessed at thecloud storage 1120. In other words, the data synchronization between theimage service center 1110 and the cloud storage 1120 are not limited touser data uploaded to the image service center 1110 or the cloud storage1120. Secondary image projects such as image product designs andphotostories are also automatically synchronized with the cloud storage1120 in the pre-defined unified data structure.

A user can use a client, a web interface in communication with the imageservice center 1110 or a cloud dashboard 1131 to manage and edit images,photostories, and image product designs stored at the cloud storage1120, which is automatically synchronized with the user's image albums1111, image product designs 1112, and photostories 1113 in image servicecenter 1110. The cloud dashboard 1131 can be connected to the cloudstorage 1120 via a web socket. The user can also authorize his or herfriends and family members to view and to contribute to the user'simages, photostories, and image product designs at the cloud storage1120 and at the image service center 1110 (step 1270). For example, theuser can assign other users roles such as: viewer, contributor,commenter, editor, etc. Moreover, different images, photostories,videos, files, or different folders can be defined to be accessed bydifferent members.

Referring to FIG. 13, an exemplified user interface 1300 incommunication with the image service center 1110 or the cloud dashboard1131 includes a control panel 1310 that the owner Raymond can use todefine other users' roles (step 1270) in accessing Raymond data storedin the cloud storage 1120 and the image service center 1110. Raymond hasthe highest access level as manager, editor, contributor, commenter, andviewer. Raymond's wife is assigned as an editor, contributor, commenter,and viewer. Grandparents 1, 2 and a sibling may be assigned the roles ofcontributor, commenter, and viewer. A relative (e.g. a cousin) may havethe role of commenter and viewer. A friend may be only a viewer. Ingeneral, users having higher level roles also have access rights of thelower level roles. The control panel 1310 can for example include aplurality of selectable controls such as selection buttons 1320 whichallow the owner Raymond to easily define roles for different users. Thelevels of user accesses can be defined for each image album, folders ofproduct designs or photostories in the cloud storage 1120 for theapplication of the image service center 1110.

The levels of user accesses can also be based on individual images,product designs, or photostories. In some embodiments, the levels ofuser accesses are defined by tags associated with the images, imageproduct designs, or photostories. The secondary image project such asimage project and photostories will be accessible on other devices1121-1124 step 1280). The user can view, edit, share, or order the imageproducts or photostories using different devices 1121-1124. The images,or photostories, or image products in the image service center 1110 andthe cloud storage 1120 are labeled with time stamp for proper versioncontrol.

The disclosed systems and methods can include one or more of thefollowing advantages: The disclosed systems and methods cansignificantly save users' time spent on transferring, saving, ororganizing images from multiple devices. The disclosed systems andmethods allow photostories and image product created on one device to beautomatically stored at cloud storage and made accessible to otherdevices. Moreover, the accesses to a group of or individual images,photostories, and image products by different users can be flexiblydefined by the owner of the data.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer network system for providing imageservices, comprising: an image service center comprising a server thatestablishes a unified data structure that defines images and secondaryimage projects associated with a first user; a cloud storage system incommunication with the image service center, wherein the image servicecenter is configured to automatically send images and the unified datastructure to the cloud storage system, wherein the cloud storage systemautomatically stores images according to the unified data structure; anda computer processor in communication with the cloud storage system,wherein the computer processor automatically identifies a group ofimages in the unified data structure, determines number of images in thegroup, and compares the number of images in the group with apredetermined range, wherein the computer processor is configured toautomatically create a secondary image project incorporating the imagesin the group without receiving a user request for creating an imageproject if the number of images in the group is within the predeterminedrange, wherein the computer processor is configured to automaticallyselect at least one page layout for the secondary image project and toplace the images in the page layout, wherein the cloud storage system isconfigured to automatically store the secondary image project accordingto the unified data structure and send the secondary image project tousers' devices.
 2. The computer network system of claim 1, wherein thesecondary image project is automatically created without receiving userrequest.
 3. The computer network system of claim 1, wherein thesecondary image project is automatically created by a server in theimage service center, wherein the computer processor resides in theserver.
 4. The computer network system of claim 1, wherein the secondaryimage project is automatically created by a client application incommunication with the image service center.
 5. The computer networksystem of claim 1, wherein the secondary image project is automaticallycreated by the computer processor in a user device using a web interfacein communication with the image service center.
 6. The computer networksystem of claim 1, wherein the secondary image project comprises animage product design.
 7. The computer network system of claim 1, whereinthe unified data structure includes a user identification, one or moreimage albums, and one or more folders each comprising one or moresecondary image projects.
 8. The computer network system of claim 1,wherein the cloud storage system receives, from a first user, definitionof roles of the users in accessing the secondary image project stored inthe cloud storage system.
 9. The computer network system of claim 8,wherein the secondary image project stored at the cloud storage systemare accessed by the users' devices based on corresponding users' accessroles.
 10. The computer network system of claim 1, wherein the secondaryimage project includes a photobook that incorporates images associatedwith the user.
 11. The computer network system of claim 10, wherein thecomputer processor automatically selects a format or a style for thedesign of the photobook.
 12. The computer network system of claim 11,wherein the computer processor automatically assigns a portion of theimages into a first page group and a second page group each comprisingone or more images, places the first page group of one or more images inthe first page of the photobook, and places the second page group of oneor more images in the second page of the photobook.
 13. The computernetwork system of claim 12, wherein the computer processor is configuredto automatically select first page layout from a library of pagelayouts, wherein the first page group of one or more images are placedin the first page according to the first page layout, and wherein thecomputer processor is configured to automatically select a second pagelayout from the library of page layouts, wherein the second page groupof one or more images are placed in the second page according to thesecond page layout.
 14. The computer network system of claim 12, whereinat least two images in the portion of images are separated into thefirst page group and the second page group based on capture times of thetwo images.
 15. The computer network system of claim 12, wherein atleast two images in the portion of images are separated into the firstpage group and the second page group based on color content of the twoimages.
 16. The computer network system of claim 12, wherein at leasttwo images in the portion of images are separated into the first pagegroup and the second page group based on image-capture locations of thetwo images.
 17. A computer network system for providing image services,comprising: an image service center comprising a server that establishesa unified data structure that defines images and secondary imageprojects associated with a first user, wherein the secondary imageprojects include image product designs; a cloud storage system incommunication with the image service center, wherein the image servicecenter is configured to automatically send images and the unified datastructure to the cloud storage system, wherein the cloud storage systemautomatically stores images according to the unified data structure; anda computer processor in communication with the cloud storage system,wherein the computer processor automatically identifies a group ofimages in the unified data structure, determines number of images in thegroup, and compares the number of images in the group with apredetermined range, wherein the computer processor is configured toautomatically create the image product design incorporating the imagesin the group without receiving a user request for creating an imageproject design if the number of images in the group is within thepredetermined range, wherein the computer processor is configured toautomatically select at least one page layout for the image productdesign; and to place the images in the page layout, wherein the cloudstorage system is configured to automatically store the image productdesign according to the unified data structure and send the imageproduct design to users' devices.
 18. The computer network system ofclaim 17, wherein the image product design is automatically createdwithout receiving a request from a user.
 19. The computer network systemof claim 17, wherein the image product design is initiated by a user andenabled by the image service center.